The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies hosted a workshop entitled “Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region: China, India and U.S. Perspectives” May 21-23 in Honolulu. The workshop focused on three key issues in the maritime realm: geopolitical challenges, transnational security concerns, and multilateral cooperation.

The goal of the workshop was to help develop common understanding and identify common approaches to maritime security cooperation between the three major stakeholders of the Indo-Pacific.

Dr. Mohan Malik, workshop academic lead, pointed out that “this was the first DoD-sponsored Track 1.5 trilateral involving China, India and the United States focused entirely on maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. While ‘the Indo-Pacific region’ concept generated lot of discussion, participants recognized the need for a trilateral mechanism focused on maritime issues to complement the existing regional architecture in order to facilitate communication and confidence amid increased naval activity.”

For the workshop, APCSS brought together a cross-section of 39 practitioners, policymakers and scholars from the three major maritime powers (the United States, China and India) for candid exchange in a strictly non-attribution environment. Discussions included perspectives from sectors including defense, foreign affairs, coast guard, and media.

According to APCSS Director Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Dan Leaf, ““It’s up to us to advocate, educate and formulate the mechanisms and methods that will prevent unfortunate even tragic misunderstandings, circumstances and accidents that could lead to conflict in the maritime domain.”

The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a Department of Defense institute that addresses regional and global security issues. Military and civilian representatives, most from the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations, participate in a comprehensive program of executive education, professional exchanges and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The Center supports the U.S. Pacific Command by developing and sustaining relationships among security practitioners and national security establishments throughout the region. Its mission is to build capacities and communities of interest by educating, connecting, and empowering security practitioners to advance Asia-Pacific security. It is one of the Department of Defense’s five regional security studies centers.

Since opening in 1995, APCSS has had representatives from 104 countries and territories, and four international organizations attend courses at the Center for a total of more than 7,400 alumni.